Median rent is 13% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,161/mo). Buying is cheaper in North Bethesda, where the median home runs $712,100 versus $879,500. Households earn more in North Bethesda ($128,970 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
North Bethesda, MD
How much would you need to earn in North Bethesda, MD to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
North Bethesda
Maryland
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Los Angeles at $1,879/mo compared to $2,161/mo in North Bethesda (13% gap). Median home values are within 19% of each other: $879,500 in Los Angeles and $712,100 in North Bethesda.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 5.75% in Maryland, so North Bethesda is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.00% in Maryland; North Bethesda has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
North Bethesda
Income tax: 5.75%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for North Bethesda.
Pick North Bethesda if you prioritize higher median household income ($128,970/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick North Bethesda if you prioritize lower state income tax (5.75%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than North Bethesda?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs North Bethesda?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $2,161/mo in North Bethesda, MD. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 13%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or North Bethesda?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $128,970 in North Bethesda, MD. North Bethesda, MD has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or North Bethesda?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and Maryland's is 5.75%. North Bethesda, MD has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in North Bethesda to match my Los Angeles income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology